"This book is based on research and observations undertaken for the author's PhD thesis at the National University of Ireland, and represents a case study of national and regional campaigns against both the Irish state's Regional Waste Management Plans and the corporate sector's attempts to develop waste incinerators or dumps in various parts of Ir
In a world of dwindling natural resources and mounting environmental crisis, who is devising ways of living that will work for the long haul? And how can we, as individuals, make a difference? To answer these fundamental questions, Professor Karen Litfin embarked upon a journey to many of the world’s ecovillagesÑintentional communities at the cutting-edge of sustainable living. From rural to urban, high tech to low tech, spiritual to secular, she discovered an under-the-radar global movement making positive and radical changes from the ground up. In this inspiring and insightful book, Karen Litfin shares her unique experience of these experiments in sustainable living through four broad windows - ecology, economics, community, and consciousness - or E2C2. Whether we live in an ecovillage or a city, she contends, we must incorporate these four key elements if we wish to harmonize our lives with our home planet. Not only is another world possible, it is already being born in small pockets the world over. These micro-societies, however, are small and time is short. Fortunately - as Litfin persuasively argues - their successes can be applied to existing social structures, from the local to the global scale, providing sustainable ways of living for generations to come. You can learn more about Karen's experiences on the Ecovillages website: http://ecovillagebook.org/
The highly acclaimed manual for changing everyday habits-now in an all-newthird edition! We are consuming resources and polluting our environment at a rate that is outstripping our planet's ability to support us. To create a sustainable future, we must not only change our own actions, we must educate and encourage those around us to change theirs. If one individual recycles his plastic containers, the impact is minimal. But if an entire community recycles, enormous amounts of resources are saved. How then do we go about transforming people's good intentions into action? Fostering Sustainable Behavior explains how the field of community-based social marketing has emerged as an effective tool for encouraging positive social change. This completely revised and updated third edition contains a wealth of new research, behavior change tools, and case studies. Learn how to: target unsustainable behaviors, and identify the barriers to change understand various commitment strategies communicate effective messages enhance motivation and invite participation. The strategies introduced in this ground-breaking manual are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in promoting sustainable behavior, including environmental conservation, recycling and waste reduction, water and energyefficiency and alternative transportation.
Any realistic response to climate change will require reducing carbon emissions to a sustainable level. Yet even people who already recognize that the climate is the most urgent issue facing the planet struggle to understand their individual responsibilities. Is it even possible to live with a sustainable carbon footprint in modern American society—much less to live well? What are the options for those who would like to make climate awareness part of their daily lives but don’t want to go off the grid or become a hermit? In Live Sustainably Now, Karl Coplan shares his personal journey of attempting to cut back on carbon without giving up the amenities of a suburban middle-class lifestyle. Coplan chronicles the joys and challenges of a year on a carbon budget—kayaking to work, hunting down electric-car charging stations, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and enjoying plenty of travel on weekends and vacations while avoiding long-distance flights. He explains how to set a personal carbon cap and measure your actual footprint, with his own results detailed in monthly diary entries. Presenting the pros and cons of different energy, transportation, and lifestyle options, Live Sustainably Now shows that there does not have to be a trade-off between the ethical obligation to maintain a sustainable carbon footprint and the belief that life should be fulfilling and fun. This powerful and persuasive book provides an individual-level blueprint for a carbon-sustainable tweak to the American dream.
Provides an internationally grounded and critical review of grassroots sustainability enterprises, focusing on the processes that lead to their formation, the governing context that shapes their evolution, the benefits they create and the challenges that they face in different contexts.
Global population growth is putting our children and grandchildren at risk. Living a Sustainable Lifestyle for Our Children's Children shows how sustainable development is a process of living that cuts across many of the major concerns facing society today and establishes how we can move beyond these present risks. It presents an easy to understand description of sustainability, where humans find the means to coexist in a manner that maintains biodiversity, wildlands, and decent environments while also achieving economic prosperity and equality, present and future. The book challenges people to transform their awareness of human-nature interactions into a deeper commitment to both protecting and wisely using our global natural resources. Going beyond science, technology, and politics, this book discusses how we live and why we live the way we do, while addressing the basics of life: how to know what is in our water, air, food, and land. The good news is, a shift to sustainable development is occurring. Ordinary people living ordinary lives, looking at how they live, how that in turn affects nature, and how fundamental nature is to our existence, is the beginning. And, this book poses tough questions, not for another debate, but to initiate reader awareness, understanding, and motion. We hope to advance understanding of what people can do differently to alter the surging tide of material inequity and declining resources by offering numerous alternatives for the individual considering their ability to make a difference.
Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet. If you want to save the planet, but your to-do list is already pretty long and remembering your re-usable coffee cup feels like a Herculean task, then this is the book for you. Covering every aspect of our lives from the stuff we buy and the food we eat to how we travel, work, and celebrate, this book provides stacks of practical, down to earth ideas to slot into your daily life, alongside a gentle kick up the butt to put your newfound knowledge into action. Practical tips include unsubscribing from all the tempting emails that drop into your inbox with details of the newest clothing range or the latest sale, and keeping a mug next to your kettle to work out how much water you actually need to boil each time, as over-filling kettles costs British households £68 million on energy bills each year. Find out how to fit "sustainable living" into your life, in a way that works for you. Change your impact without radically changing your life and figure out the small steps you can make that will add up to make a big difference (halo not included).
**Discover a Greener, Simpler Life with 'Living Sustainably'** Unlock the secret to a balanced, eco-conscious lifestyle with *Living Sustainably*, the ultimate guide to minimalist sustainable living. Dive into a treasure trove of actionable tips and strategies that make it easy to reduce your footprint while embracing a life of simplicity and purpose. Whether you're looking to declutter your space, make conscious consumer choices, or turn your home into an eco-friendly haven, this book will be your go-to resource for all things green and serene. ### What's Inside? **Introduction to Minimalist Sustainable Living** Start your journey with a solid understanding of minimalist philosophy and its essential link to sustainability. Learn the myriad of benefits that come with living a simpler, greener life. **Minimalist Wardrobe Essentials** Curate a capsule wardrobe with sustainable and ethical fashion brands. Discover how to maintain your clothing to ensure it stands the test of time. **Eco-Friendly Home Organization** Master the art of mindful decluttering, explore sustainable storage solutions, and get inspired to organize using reusable and upcycled materials. **Zero Waste Living Strategies** Transition seamlessly into a zero waste lifestyle with essential tools and DIY projects designed to eliminate waste from your daily routine. **Minimalist Sustainable Kitchen** From reducing food waste to eco-friendly kitchenware, find out how to make your kitchen a model of efficiency and sustainability. **Green Cleaning Practices** Learn to replace toxic chemicals with natural solutions and discover sustainable cleaning tools that keep your home spotless and safe. **Sustainable Transportation Options** Embrace public transportation, explore eco-friendly vehicles, and see the benefits of walking and carpooling. **Minimalist Sustainable Gardening** Whether you have a big garden or a small balcony, get started with sustainable gardening, composting, and growing your own food. **Eco-Conscious Technology Use** Understand the impact of e-waste, make sustainable tech choices, and adopt energy-efficient gadgets for a greener digital life. **Mindful and Sustainable Consumerism** Make conscious purchase decisions, support local businesses, and embrace the power of second-hand shopping. **Minimalist Sustainable Travel** Plan eco-friendly journeys, choose sustainable accommodations, and discover the joys of traveling light. **Minimalist Sustainable Office** Create a green workspace, select sustainable office supplies, and reduce digital clutter for a more productive and eco-friendly office. **Building a Sustainable Community** Educate and inspire others, participate in community-based sustainability projects, and contribute to local environmental movements. **Financial Sustainability** Discover the connection between your finances and eco-friendliness, explore sustainable investment options, and learn to budget for a greener lifestyle. **Emotional and Mental Benefits** Experience the emotional and mental advantages of minimalism, such as reduced stress, increased joy, and a deeper connection with nature. *Living Sustainably* is not just a book; it's a comprehensive roadmap to a life that is both fulfilling and environmentally responsible. Transform your lifestyle today and help create a better world for tomorrow.
Global Sustainable Communities Handbook is a guide for understanding and complying with the various international codes, methods, and legal hurtles surrounding the creation of sustainable communities all over the world. The book provides an introduction to sustainable development, technology and infrastructure outlines, codes, standards, and guidelines written by experts from across the globe. - Includes methods for the green use of natural resources in built communities - Clearly explains the most cutting edge green technologies - Provides a common approach to building green communities - Covers green practices from architecture to construction
